NEW DELHI: Israel’s ambassador to India Reuven Azar on Wednesday strongly condemned Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s comments on the treatment of minorities in India, calling them “ridiculous” and hypocritical. Azar noted that while Khamenei lectures other nations, Iran is accused of suppressing freedoms and violating human rights.
“It is really ridiculous that this radical leader is trying to give lessons to others while killing his own people by oppressing freedoms like freedom of religion, freedom of speech and human rights, which is completely outrageous and we hope that the Iranian people will one day be freed from such oppression and tyranny coming from Khamenei,” Azar told PTI.
The Iranian leader, addressing a group of clerics gathered in Tehran on Monday, spoke of what he described as the “suffering” of Muslims in Gaza, Myanmar and India. “The enemies of Islam have always tried to make us indifferent regarding our shared identity as an Islamic Ummah. We cannot consider ourselves Muslims if we are oblivious to the suffering that a Muslim is undergoing in #Myanmar, #Gaza, #India or anywhere else,” he posted on ‘X’ as part of a series of posts about the event.
India on Monday strongly deplored comments made by Iran’s supreme leader on the plight of minorities in India, calling them “ill-informed and unacceptable.” Official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal said countries commenting on minorities in India should look at their “own track record” before making remarks about others.
Azar briefly addressed incidents in Lebanon where pagers were used across the country and said the Israeli government is committed to ensuring the safe return of citizens displaced by recent Hezbollah attacks. “We are working towards a diplomatic solution with the help of the United States and other partners,” he said.
Speaking on the sidelines of India Water Week, Azar noted that collaboration between India and Israel has become increasingly critical, particularly as India continues to address water scarcity and boost agricultural productivity. “The ties between India and Israel have expanded, especially in the field of water,” Azar told PTI, while highlighting Israel’s role as a global leader in water innovation.
According to Azar, Israel offers a comprehensive “bank of solutions” that has had a significant impact on food security and sustainability. These solutions span areas such as efficient irrigation systems, water recycling for agriculture, and advanced water management networks. The ambassador also highlighted Israel’s presence on the ground in India, with Israeli expertise helping to manage 32 Centers of Excellence focused on water management.
These centers, he noted, play a crucial role in India’s agricultural and urban water sectors. “We have companies that have started producing on Indian soil, contributing to the country’s water management system,” Azar said, adding that Israeli investments are reaching more Indian cities and agricultural regions.
Azar further highlighted that water collaboration between the two nations is expected to continue and expand in line with India’s infrastructure development goals. “India is making incredible efforts to create more infrastructure to bring water solutions to the people,” he said, adding that these solutions are essential to improve access to water for both urban and rural communities.
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